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euge

Everyone lives a committed life

“No one lives an uncommitted life.” Even the person who is lazy is a committed person i.e. committed to laziness. We’re brought up in a culture of commitment (from parents who are seeking to instill a commitment to the family, studies or values - to a culture that tells us to be committed to a our personal development and careers). No one lives an uncommitted life – because everyone is committed to something, someone or some way in life. Commitment is not a bad thing and is to be valued, but as followers of Jesus, it must be asked, ‘what are you committed to in life?’ What controls your commitments in life? Look at your ambitions and priorities, your family, your use of time and money, and your relationships – are they shaped by a commitment to follow Jesus?

Paul in 2 Cor.5:10-6:2 was a man shaped by two events that shaped his commitment to Jesus and his mission. Firstly, Paul understood that as a follower of Jesus he was accountable for the way he lived his life. He makes clear that there is a judgment where we must ALL appear before Jesus to give an account. His desire to please Jesus and to see people come to know Jesus was grounded in the knowledge that it will be Jesus who will one day judge all people (Paul included). Paul had a healthy fear of judgment in his life – a judgment that held him accountable, and a judgment that he knew people around him would also one day face. And so he makes it his commitment to persuade others to join him in fearing Jesus, in living a life that pleases Jesus and in being reconciled to Jesus.

Secondly, Paul understood that as a follower of Jesus he was personally loved by Jesus, who died so that he might live. "For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died" - 2 Cor.5:14. We often forget that Paul was not always a Christian. He was an angry, violent, legalistic, self-sufficient man (1 Tim.2:12-16; Gal.1:13, 23; Acts 22:8; 26:19). And like those around him, Paul was under God’s judgment, destined for hell. Then Jesus saved him and transformed him. It’s Paul’s experience of the love and saving power of Jesus that transforms and directs his commitments in life. From one under judgment and hell, to one saved by Jesus, who is now a man accountable to Jesus and his mission because others are still under judgment, who is now ‘compelled’ or ‘constrained’ by Jesus’ love for him in life.

If there was a profound truth that summed up Paul’s personal relationship and commitment to Jesus – it would be ‘Jesus loves me’. If you were to interview Paul and asked him what is the most profound truth you’ve discovered in your Christian life? He would say – Jesus loves me, this I know. For the Bible tells me so. Little ones to him belong. They are weak but he is strong / Jesus loves me, he who died. Heaven’s gate to open wide. He will wash away my sin. Let his little child come in. / Jesus loves me, he will stay. Close beside me all the way. If I love him when I die. He will take me home on high (Anna B. Warner, 1860). His life was constrained, shaped, directed, marked, overwhelmed, won over by Jesus’ love for him. Is yours?

No one lives an uncommitted life – what or who are you deeply committed to?

A View Of History In Our City

Our view of history shapes the way we look at life, how we live and how we understand circumstances and events in our world. Some people believe that history is cyclical – life is a cyclical. There’s nothing new – because history repeats itself in an endless cycle. Others believe that history is linear. History and life is linear with a beginning and an end. Then there are others who hold to a chaotic view of history. History and life is nothing more than a series of events that are left to chance, a series of random disconnected events with no beginning, end meaning.

And so when you look at life you’re faced with 3 possible windows. Am I stuck in a never ending cycle beyond my control? Am I moving forward towards some ultimate goal or ultimate end? Or am I living a series of random disconnected events that just happen without beginning, end or purpose?

As I shared last week from the pulpit, there is a Biblical and Christian view of history and life. The Christian view of history and life is that it’s linear and purposeful moving towards a plan put in place by God himself. The Christian view of history is that there’s an unifying story that’s being played out in history and life that cuts across every nation, culture, people and language group – it’s going somewhere … it’s not a random series of events … and all that happens in history and life in our city is moving towards a plan put in place by God himself. There’s a story that unites us in this city.

Firstly, the Christian view of history is that something is wrong with us, our society, our city and our world. Even in an affluent and modern city like ours brokenness is self-evident, from local council corruption, to 30,000 homeless on our streets, to 31,000 abortions each year. Nationally, 40% of marriages in our country ends in divorce, and we spend more on our pets (2.3 billion) than on overseas aid (2 billion). Something is wrong with us, our city and our world. The Bible calls it the consequences of sin i.e. the consequences of living life in a society and culture that has rejected God. What we see and experience of brokenness around us is the outworking of a culture and society that has turned its back on God. (Rom.1:18-32)

Secondly, the Christian view of history is that God is not absent, but is involved, in control, working out his purposes in history to save us, to fix us, to redeem our culture, to renew society, to transform our broken cities and world. And he’s doing it in a man called Jesus who 2000 years ago died on the cross for our sins, who rose again from the dead, and who now rules as God’s appointed right hand man in our lives, our city and our world … who is gathering to himself a people, building a new and transformed society and culture, a city within our city, called the church. Everything in history and life converges and centres on Jesus who comes to save and to transform those living life without God, caught up in sin and brokenness. (Acts 2:21-36; 4:12)

There is a story being played out on the stage of history, in our lives and in our city. We live in a broken world, because we’re broken people who have rejected the God who made us and ignored his way in life. We all need saving, and God acts to save us in Jesus by sending him to die for our sins, to conquer death by raising him from the dead, and to be the one who now rules over all. And right now Jesus continues to save and gather his people, building a new and transformed city within our city called the church; a city where his love, compassion, forgiveness, justice and mercy rule; a city on a hill, a church whose light cannot be hidden in a city that desperately needs saving. You and I are that city, and the story is still being played out today.

An Open Letter To Our Cell Group Leaders

Cell groups have started and the new ministry year has finally begun. Firstly, let me say that I am thankful for the commitment of our cell group leaders - let it always be to Jesus and his mission. I anticipate both a challenging and an exciting year as we look to bring a renewed vision of Jesus and His mission to our church. As I shared on Sunday, renewal comes when we are grounded in the gospel of the the Lord Jesus who died for my sins, who rose from the dead, who today rules this city and my world; renewal comes when we begin to see that Jesus calls us to a bigger vision in life and ministry than our narrow vision ... the people in this city and the world is our mission; renewal comes when we rely on, depend on, seek, and wait on the power of the Holy Spirit to empower us to accomplish his vision and mission through our lives, in this city and in our world. We need all three - a clear gospel, a wider vision, and the power of the Spirit. My prayer is that God might be so gracious as to do just that for me, for you, and for the people under your care. Pray with me, for me and for each other, and for our people. It's what we need.

Secondly, let me say that I'm looking forward to leading our Tuesday evening cell group leaders fellowship this year. I know that we're all busy with ministry, but I hope you'll see coming on Tuesday evening as your time: your time to sharpen yourself and others; your time to chill, relax and share with other leaders; your time to be renewed personally for life and leadership. My prayer is that you'll come and leave energized, excited and empowered for Jesus and his mission.

We'll be meeting up as cell group leaders starting this month on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month at church, with our first get together on the 12th (next week). The program for us as cell group leaders on Tuesday will generally be a simple one - we meet at 8pm sharp and will be finished by 9.30pm. They'll be a short teaching segment that I'll take (1/2 hour); they'll be small group time (guys/girls) to think and work through the implications/relevance of what we might look at (1/2 hour); and then 1/2 hour of praying over what we've explored, for ourselves, and for people in our cell groups.

Thirdly, let me say that I'll be praying for you these few weeks as your cell groups start. May you know the leading and power of the Spirit, as you follow Him and as you lead others under Him.

A Time To Chart New Maps In Our City

Not only are there two ways to live in life – as a church, there are also always two ways to do ministry in our city. We’re either investing our lives in building the ministry of the gospel in our city or we’re happy being comfortable and safe where we're building up our own little patch in the city of Sydney. It’s always worth asking … what are you building – who are you following?

If your focus in the Christian life or even as a church is on your little patch in life (and honestly that’s all it is … a little patch of grass), and some have larger patches than others in nicer suburbs, the reality is that its still only a patch of grass in God’s scheme. This is the reality as Peter puts it, “All men are like grass, and all their glory (their work) is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.” And then we read that, "this is the word that was preached to you – this is the word that saved you". (1 Peter 1:24-25)

There’s nothing you build in this city that’ll last - grass grows and fades and withers, but it’s only the Word of God, the Word of the Gospel that saves, that’ll stands forever in our city. I want to make sure that we keep investing and building in what will last beyond our lifetime in this city. Personally, and as a church, what matters is growing the Word of the Gospel in our city. In fact, we’re believers today in the city of Sydney, because the apostles first preached the gospel in Jerusalem 2000 years ago.

In fact, the book of Acts is really a testimony to the living, enduring and growing Word of the Gospel. You read in Acts 1:8 where Jesus says to his apostles, "you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” And today the Word of God is still going out to the ends of the earth in the lives of men and women who have received the gospel. Nations rise and fall, empires come and go, buildings are built and demolished, but the Word of the Gospel will always stand. In fact the growth of the gospel has never depended on the size of a church congregation or its facilities. The pattern you see in Acts is one where as the gospel is preached and received, there you see churches planted in those communities. Some churches meeting in homes, others in public lecture halls, still others in the outdoors.

What are we building and growing in our city? My vision has always been to grow a church not bound by walls, by tradition, by fear, by comfort, but a church with a vision to raise the next generation and to plant Bible believing, Jesus loving, Spirit empowered, gospel proclaiming, mission minded churches across the city of Sydney. In 2005 I cast that vision of sailing the deep waters which led to us starting GracePoint at Auburn. That was part of the start of a vision to plant churches across the city of Sydney: to be a church without walls, looking to plant 7 new churches in 13 years. It’s a vision I’m still committed to.

Between 1994 and 1996, the Institute for Church Development in Germany conducted a research project surveying 1000 churches in 32 countries (published by Charles Schwarz in Natural Church Development.) Churches were categorized into sets of 1-100, 100-200, 200-300 etc. They found that churches in the 1-100 category increased an average of 32 new people over the past 5 years; churches in the 100-200 category also increased an average of 32 new people; churches in the 200-300 category averaged 39 new people; and churches in the 300-400 category increased an average of 25 people (C. Schwarz, Natural Church Development. p.47.) And that means 'a small church wins just as many people for Christ as a large one, and what's more, two churches with 200 worshippers on Sundays would win twice as many new people as one church with 400 in attendance.' (Schwarz, p.47)

What about churches with more than 1000 people? They found that the smallest churches (with an average attendance of 51) won an average of 32 new people in the past five years, while mega-churches (with an average attendance of 2,856) won 112 new persons over the same 5 years.

In raw numbers it means that a mega-church wins more people than a single small church. But, if you keep in mind that a mega-church is 56 times the size of a small church, then the following calculations shows you the potential of the two groups more realistically. 'If instead of a single church with 2,856 people worshipping we had 56 churches, each with 51 worshippers, these churches would, statistically, win 1,792 new people within five years - 16 times the number the mega-church would win.' (Schwarz, p.48)

The effectiveness of small churches in terms of growth is statistically, 1,600 percent greater than that of mega-churches. The myth is that big is better. What we need are more Bible believing, Jesus loving, Spirit empowered, gospel proclaiming, mission minded churches planted across our city. Research also found that statistically more people are mobilized to use their gifts to serve in a smaller church than in a larger churches. If you look at our growth at GracePoint we fall into the small church category. When we started with our first congregation between 2000 and 2003 we grew from an average of 45 to 95 people attending our service (a growth of 50 new people in our service through evangelistic and transfer growth).

I believe we grow the ministry of the gospel best in our city by planting new churches or congregations. As each church plant grows and develops, we begin to plant new churches in different suburbs, which in turn eventually plants new churches themselves. And apart from achieving a much more effective rate of growth evangelistically reaching people groups across the city of Sydney, a smaller group allows for much greater involvement of people in terms of using their gifts in serving, less red-tape and structures to worry about, a much greater ability to maintain focus, and a much more personal church.

We can actually reach people across Sydney more effectively by planting new churches. You plant the first one, and then in 4-5 years time when you have a stable and strong congregation, you plant another new church in a different suburb, one out of our evening congregation, and one out of our morning congregation. If we did this, potentially by 2013 we could have 400 people spread across 4 churches or congregations, with all 4 churches ready to plant another 4 new churches.


Personally I believe it’s time to sail the deep waters again, to chart out new maps as a church in our city. We musn't be bound by walls, by tradition, by fear, by comfort. We’re called to love Jesus and his mission, and people in our city. We’re called to be a church with a vision to raise the next generation and to plant Bible believing, Jesus loving, Spirit empowered, gospel proclaiming, mission minded churches across the city of Sydney.

Water, Church and Ministry

This morning I was at my local coffee shop reading and thinking about ministry. Felt the need to re-read a book titled, 'Aqua Church' by one of my favorite authors, Leonard Sweet. Been thinking about the 'church' recently. What does it mean to be a church where Jesus is at the center leading, directing, shaping, molding, modeling, instructing us? I hear people pray that all the time, that our church might honor Jesus, or that our church might have Jesus at the center. What does it actually mean?

So much of what we do seems more 'human' led rather than Jesus led. Like most churches, I suspect our ministry is filled with countless meetings where decisions are made, where church plans are discussed, where Bible studies are run, where leaders are trained, where evangelism is carried out. The question that's constantly on my mind is, 'where is Jesus in all of this?' Sometimes we fool ourselves into thinking that ministry = meetings. Run enough meetings, pump out enough paper, organize enough events, keep the wheels turning each week, and we fool ourselves into thinking that we're doing ministry.

Someone forgot to tell us that the church is not a business, a committee or a company, but a people that Jesus has saved and gathered around himself; that he's transforming and leading. The church belongs to Jesus and it's His mission and vision we serve. Leonard in his opening chapter points out that our mission is to lead people to water i.e. to Jesus. I'm not always sure whether we're leading people to water whether it's those who belong to the church or those still on the outside.

When was the last time you attended a meeting at church whether a cell group, a committee meeting, a music team practice, or even a worship service and thought to yourself, 'man, that was refreshing ... I came and I met Jesus today'? Like the words of that song on what's at the Heart Of Worship, 'it's all about you, it's all about you, Jesus'. I wish I could say that about every single one of our meetings at church. Unfortunately, it's not always true at church. The Psalmist tells us to 'taste and see that the Lord is good' and that there is 'blessing for the man or woman who takes refuge in Him' (Ps.34:8). Our mission is to lead people to water i.e. to Jesus. We need water and so do those on the outside.

Our problem is that sometimes we muddy the water in our meetings because the cups are dirty. And when you muddy the water, it's difficult to convince people to drink from it, because all they see is a broken and dirty cup. Even worse if people actually drink the water, instead of an experience of Jesus, what they get is an empty, draining, often lifeless experience of church. Or maybe sometimes the cups are not dirty, but just unattractive, so they obscure the pure refreshing water on the inside.

As I was reading Aqua Church, it was also made clear that if you notice something about water ... it's liquid. It's a liquid that fills the shape of any container. The main thing is to trust the water. Don't tamper with it, don't muddy it, don't dilute it. The content always remains the same - the same Jesus yesterday is what I need and what people need today. When it comes to church, people need water, but the containers might need changing. Perhaps what the church needs is a different container. Leonard writes that,

"Every generation needs a shape that fits its own hands, its own soul. Each generation, every person, needs a different handle from which to receive the living waters of Jesus. Our task is to pour the living water into anything anyone will pick up. By 'anything' I mean that literally: anything. If I want to reach my twenty-second century children with the gospel of Jesus, I must be prepared to to pour the living water into containers out of which I myself would never be caught dead drinking. This is what Paul meant when he talked about our "becoming all things to all men" that we might win some (1 Corinthians 9:22)"

Perhaps what we need is not just more of Jesus, but different containers in the way we do church that will help people drink from the living waters of Jesus. Maybe what we need is not just new wine, but new wine skins as well in the way we do church. Ours is an ancient faith, a well of living water that has been running a long long time. There's nothing wrong with the water, it's the containers that need changing in our generation.

Pastoral Note - 11th November

The gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) give us the story of the life and work of Jesus. The book of Acts is the story of the powerful work of Jesus after his resurrection. While it’s called the Acts of the Apostles, it’s really the powerful acts of the Holy Spirit, the spirit of Jesus in growing His church through the first disciples from Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria to the ends of the earth. We read in chapter 1:8 that the purpose of the giving of the Holy Spirit to the disciples of Jesus was so that they might have the power to be Jesus’ witnesses. Acts is the unfolding of that story.

There’s a reason why the first disciples of Jesus needed the Spirit’s power to witness. Because wherever Jesus is proclaimed there you’ll always find opposition, and the temptation to fold under pressure. Right at the start the early Christian experience in sharing Jesus was ridicule in ch.2 and persecution/jail in ch.3. From embarrassment, to the fear of ridicule, to the fear of being excluded, this has always been experience of Christians who put Jesus forward in their lives. Even Paul who wrote most of the letters in the New Testament one prayer request is that he might be able to share about Jesus boldly and not be afraid (Ephesians 6:19-20). I reckon we face the same temptation to be afraid when it comes to putting Jesus forward, sharing about Him, even talking about Him whether at work, at uni, at school or at home.

Ever been in a situation where you have the opportunity to share about Jesus, but are afraid? Ever been in a situation where someone has asked you about your beliefs in front of other people at work, but you brush it off? Ever been in a situation where your friends are discussing a moral issue, but you remain silent rather than put forward a Christian perspective? We read in Acts 4 that Peter has just landed up in jail for talking about Jesus, and when he’s hauled up before the authorities he speaks clearly and boldly. This is the same Peter who a few months ago denies Jesus 3 times! What lies behind Peter’s boldness and clarity? Acts 4:8 tells us that it was when Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit, that he was able to boldly and clearly proclaim Christ. So impressed were the people opposing him that they were astonished, because Peter was an unschooled, ordinary guy (Acts.4:13). The power of the Spirit led to a bold and clear proclamation of Jesus in Peter’s life.

As you read on you discover that after Peter is released he goes straight to meet up with the other disciples of Jesus to pray with them. And they all ask God for continued boldness and courage to speak about Jesus (Acts.4:29). His answer comes to them in v.31, where we’re told that they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. The power of the Spirit led to a bold and clear proclamation of Jesus in the life of the disciples.

Perhaps what we need as well these days is more of the power of the Holy Spirit to give us boldness. Maybe the reason why as a church our witness is weak, our personal proclamation of Jesus is reserved, lies in that we lack the power of the Spirit to be bold. When we feel afraid, embarrassed, tempted to baulk at the opportunity to share about Jesus, unsure about our abilities, what we need is to pray and ask God to fill us with the Holy Spirit to give us boldness. Or as Paul himself asked for prayer, we should be praying this for each other.

Pastoral Note - 4th November

Last Tuesday I attended ‘Cement’, a small group gathering organized by the Friday cell group leaders to challenge some of their regulars to be the ‘cement’ that binds and grows the Friday cell group ministry. Cell group leadership is tough and lonely and sometimes a thankless ministry. ‘Cement’ was all about sharing the needs of our Friday leaders and regulars to be partners in growing God’s people together on Friday night. I was deeply moved as I heard some of our Friday leaders share their struggles, challenges and joys of ministry this year – and their heartfelt appeal for others to be the ‘cement’ in the ministry with them.

So often we come to cell group looking only to receive, to be fed, to be taught, to be listened to, to be comforted, to be encouraged. What we often forget is that we’re not just there to receive, but to also give, to also love. You can’t say you love God, or that you know the love of God, when there’s no evident love for those who “church” with you (1 John. 3:16-19). Love we’re told is expressed not just in words, but in action and truth i.e. acting rightly towards those around you.

It’s the responsibility of all God’s people to practically and actually love people when we gather, not just the responsibilities of our leaders. Taking an interest in people, making them feel welcomed, following up those who aren’t around, finding out people’s prayer points and needs, sharing your story and needs with others, practically helping out when you meet, offering to help and asking where you can serve when you meet … they’re all expressions of love that we are all called to. It’s not just our leaders who are called to love, but all God’s people when we gather. As one of our Friday cell group leaders put it, ‘by ourselves we can’t be the cement that binds and grows people on Friday nights. There’s not enough cement to bind and grow people - you guys need to be part of the cement that does it.’

Imagine a cell group where everyone came only thinking of themselves. Imagine a church where everyone came only thinking of themselves. It’s not the kind of church Jesus had in mind, and I’m quite sure that it’s not a church he’s saved or gathered. Those who really know the grace and love of God, will show grace and love. If the one who loved us and died for us, to save us and gather us is at the centre of our gathering whether on Sunday or any other day, then when we meet, we should come with a heart to serve, to love, to give, to reach out, to bless, to comfort, to listen, to encourage, to make a difference in someone’s life. You lay down your life to love and serve others whenever you meet, because Jesus first laid down his life to love and serve you. As he has loved you, so love others when you gather in your cell groups. We need more of your ‘cement’ if we’re to grow this ‘church’.

Pastoral Note - 4th October

This week our pastoral staff spent some time looking at what it means for us to do “church” ministry. One of the challenges the pastoral team faces is the many expectations both the leadership and congregation have of them. As I’ve observed churches and spoken to church leaders both here in Sydney and overseas, it’s amazing the diverse expectations churches have of their pastors. Counsellor, strategist, administrator, fund-raiser, musician, communicator, preacher, evangelist, mobilizer, mentor, vision caster, problem solver, cleaner, care-taker … the list is endless.

There’s a difference between what the church wants and what the church needs. Growing as a church will take pastors and leaders who will give the church what it biblically needs. But growing a church will also take a congregation that knows what they should expect biblically from their pastors and leaders. When there is biblical congruency between what our pastors and leaders are giving, and what our congregation is expecting, we will grow.

Ephesians 4:11-16, tells us what we should expect biblically of our pastors/teachers. There we are told that God gave the church pastors/teachers (there is no ‘and’ in the NIV bible separating pastor and teacher. A pastor pastors through teaching the word, and a teacher pastors by teaching the word). The role of the pastor/teacher is to serve the church by equipping all God’s people to serve in ministry and to grow in maturity, so that they might stand firm and not fall over in the Christian life. That means that the role of our pastors and leaders is to help you work out how to serve others at church (ministry); helping you discover and unpack the gifts God has given you to serve at church, so that together with others you might grow in maturity to become more like Jesus (maturity).

There are many needs at church, but we’re told here that our greatest need is to grow in ministry and maturity so that we might become more like Jesus. Your leaders and pastors are there to help you do this. It’s not just their primary responsibility, it’s biblically what God has called them to focus on; to do and busy themselves with. My role is to pastor/teach you by helping you work out how to best serve using the gifts God has given you, so that together with others as you do this, you might grow to be more like Jesus. It’s the role of all our leaders to do this. But it’s also your role to want to be equipped to serve others; to want to discover and use your gifts at church, so that you might grow in maturity with others.

In fact, we’re told in v.16, that when there is congruency between what your pastors and leaders are giving, and what you are expecting, we will grow, because as Paul put’s it, ‘each part does its work’. If you’re a leader may you focus on and busy yourself equipping others in ministry and maturity. If you’re not a leader may you focus on and seek to be equipped in ministry and maturity. It’s what every church needs, it’s what our church needs to grow.

Pastoral Note - 31st August

We live in a city and culture where nothing comes for free. We are taught that you get what you deserve, what you work hard for, what you put effort into. We live in a performance based city. In fact, we’re suspicious whenever anyone offers us anything, especially if it’s for free. If a stranger knocked on your door and offered you $50 for nothing, would you take it? Apart from the ‘stranger-danger’ factor, most of us would be suspicious – why is he offering $50 for nothing? what does he want? what strings are attached to it? After all, nothing comes for free.
And sometimes we think that God operates just like that. Getting right with God or getting into heaven depends on my work and my effort. Let me say to you that with God, you cannot earn your way into his family and you cannot work your way into his good books. God doesn’t work on a scale where he will judge you on the basis of whether your good works in life outweighs your bad works. God works on the principle of grace i.e. he gives us what we don’t deserve. It’s just a question of whether we think we need what he offers. Even the best of us need grace.

Amazing Grace is probably the world’s most well-known hymn. What most people don’t realize is that its author was truly a wretch. If there was a man who was morally bankrupt it would have been John Newton. He commanded an English slave ship in 1750 and traded in human flesh. We are appalled today at the illegal trading of women and children that runs across parts of Europe and Asia. Yet, in 1750, trading men, women and children was legitimized by the West because of their view of colored people as sub-human. John Newton was involved in such activities. Dr.Ralph Wilson writes that,

‘ships would make the first leg of their voyage from England nearly empty until they would anchor off the African coast. There tribal chiefs would deliver to the Europeans stockades full of men and women, captured in raids and wars against other tribes. Buyers would select the finest specimens, which would be bartered for weapons, ammunition, metal, liquor, trinkets, and cloth. Then the captives would be loaded aboard, packed for sailing. They were chained below decks to prevent suicides, laid side by side to save space, row after row, one after another, until the vessel was laden with as many as 600 units of human cargo.

Captains sought a fast voyage across the Atlantic's infamous "middle passage," hoping to preserve as much as their cargo as possible, yet mortality sometimes ran 20% or higher. When an outbreak of smallpox or dysentery occurred, the stricken were cast overboard. Once they arrived in the New World, blacks were traded for sugar and molasses to manufacture rum, which the ships would carry to England for the final leg of their "triangle trade." Then off to Africa for yet another round.’

John Newton was captain of a slave ship that contributed to the transportation of the many ships that would bring 6 million African slaves to America in the 18th century. He had a reputation for foul language and wild living - he was known by those around him as ‘the great swearer.’ One day when his ship nearly capsized in a storm he found God, or rather God found him. Is such a man deserving of God’s forgiveness? Should God save such a man? The world would say, ‘no, he has to prove himself and he has to earn his way back’. God says instead, “if this lost son wants to come home, I welcome him with open arms, I’ll forgive him. All he has to do is to recognize that his life is a mess, and run to me for help and a fresh start.” That’s grace – what is given to the undeserving. John left his old life, and spent the next 43 years speaking only of God’s amazing grace.

At 82, he said, "My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things, that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Saviour". The same thoughts he echoed in the very song, ‘Amazing Grace’.

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me,
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come.
'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

May all of us continue to find strength, hope and encouragement in the arms of God’s amazing grace. For Jesus died for us, that we should no longer live for ourselves, but for Him who died for us and was raised again. (2 Cor.5:15)

Pastoral Note - 5th August 2007

The last two weeks gave us the opportunity to rest and spend time together as a family. It was the longest holiday we’ve had together after all these years, and though tiring, it gave me an opportunity to rest and be away from work. The first week saw me feel the withdrawals associated with always being connected 24/7. It took time to get over feeling the need to check my email, send emails, follow-up work stuff, surf the net. One of the things I realized is how ‘addicted’ we are to being connected. I believe being connected gives us a sense of worth – it makes us feel wanted. One could even say it makes us feel special. From being connected through Facebook or Bebo, to Xbox live or Warcraft, to Skype or MSN, to Second Life, to YouTube, to gmail, to being on call 24/7, we want to know that we’re wanted and special. A very simple test would be to disconnect and unplug yourself for a week and then gauge how you feel. Feelings of disorientation, lostness, loneliness, boredom will all be evident.

Wanting to be connected, wanting to be wanted, wanting to feel special is the way God has made us. It’s because God has made us for relationship. Behind our desire to be connected is our desire to be in relationship, which is what all of us crave and live for. All technology has done is that it’s given us an opportunity to express that desire in a different way. In a previous generation people joined social or hobby clubs. These days we do it online in a virtual world. What people don’t realize is that what is often a legitimate need i.e. to be in relationship with others, often becomes an addiction that fuels our self-centeredness. We ‘connect’ and ‘post’ and ‘chat’ and ‘blog’ to make ourselves feel good. In fact much of what I have seen posted online is an expression of self-love.

It hides our greater need. God has not just made us for relationship with each other, but he’s made us for relationship with Himself. Being ‘connected’ only masks the void within, which is why the moment another online community pop’s up, we sign up. What we need to realize more than anything else is that there is a God who made us, who loves us, who desires to be in a relationship with us, and who has a great plan and design for our lives. It’s the one relationship we all need, but also the one relationship we run away from. We think every other relationship will fill the void from being connected online, to connecting with money, sex, career and pleasure. In fact, it’s the reason why Jesus came and why he died – to be the bridge that reconnects you with God, the one relationship that matters most in life.

Over these few weeks at church, our sermons will be looking at what it means to get connected with God, how he can fill the void and how he reshapes the way we live when it comes to money, sex, career and pleasure. You can listen in by clicking on our sermon links to download the upcoming series on the right.

Pastoral Note - 28th June 2007

Last Sunday afternoon I was running a baptism class. And one of the things I said to the group was that the Christian life is not and has never meant to be an individual journey or life. Becoming a Christian is not just about getting right with God, but being saved into God’s family. In the Old Testament, scattering was a sign of God’s judgment, and being gathered together was a sign of blessing. In saving us God gathers us into his family and into relationship with each other. We’re told that Jesus bought the church with his blood (Acts 20:28).

When God saves you, he saves you into His family, a gathering with others who have been saved. As such you are spiritually connected to those you church with. You are, and they are part of God’s family whom Jesus died for. The challenge has always been to see ourselves as part of this family. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 4 that the way forward is to, be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit— just as you were called to one hope when you were called — one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

A loving, vibrant, strong church family depends on those who are gathered … being humble and gentle and patient and carrying one another in love. We read in v.5 that we belong to one body in Christ and we share the one Spirit who unites us to each other and to Christ. We share the same Lord, faith, baptism, God and Father. I said to those being baptized that for them the challenge will be what happens when the road with their church family gets rocky, cold, tense … when they face conflict and disappointment. How will they respond? How will you respond?

Some people will say – the church has disappointed me … I’ll find another church. Others will say – that’s the way church is, I’ll just have to learn to live with it. I reckon that there’s another way - – this is what the church should be, I’ll change it, I’ve give, I’ll use my gifts, I’ll be an example, I’ll serve, I’ll love.

In a self-centered culture, most people come to church asking, ‘What am I getting out of this?’ The right Christian response and a better question would be, ‘What can I give to make this family a better place? What can I do to make this family more loving place? What part can I play to build this family?’

Some only come to church looking to be served. It is the very opposite of what it means to follow Jesus and to become more like Jesus. Jesus we read came to serve and lay down his life for many, not to be served (Mark 10:45). And he calls those he gathers to himself to do likewise (John 13:34; 15:13). In a culture where everyone only thinks of themselves, we are called to be counter-cultural i.e. to be humble and loving servants of one another in God’s family. That’s what we should be whenever we gather.

The next time you come to church, leave your worldly thinking about church at the door. Ask God to transform your thinking, your attitudes and your actions as you come to church. Ask him to use you to meet the needs of others here. Ask him to give you opportunities to love and encourage people. Ask him to help you see areas where you could make a difference. We can be a better church, a more loving church, a growing church, but it depends on you being humble, gentle, patiently carrying each other in love. Don’t forget that you and I, we are all part of this one family with Jesus at the head (1 Cor.12)

Church is not about you or me, it’s about us, and how we can together grow to love the God who made us and sent his Son to die for us; how we can learn to love and serve each other; and how we can prepare ourselves, our families and those around us to meet God one day in eternity.

Pastoral Note - 20th June 2007

Have you ever met a 'rabbit-hole' Christian? A 'rabbit-hole' Christian is one who lives in a Christian ghetto. She turns up at university, goes to a lecture or tutorial and looks around the room to find a Christian friend to sit next to. She then goes to the university café for lunch and sits with all her Christian friends. And then the rabbit-hole Christian goes to a cell group in the evening and prays for all the unsaved in his tutorial group.

Then there's the 'undercover' Christian. An 'undercover' Christian is one who doesn't live in a Christian ghetto, but is so indistinguishable from his unsaved friends that no one knows he's a Christian. He goes to work, has lunch with his unchurched friends, never speaks of his Christian faith, appears to share their values and views on work and life. After work, he spends all his time with them socializing and enjoying life. And then on Sunday he turns up at church and prays for all the unsaved at his work.

It sounds harsh, but most of us if we don't fall into one of these two categories have a bit of both in us. How can we be the salt of the earth if we have never gotten out of the saltshaker? How can we be the light of the world if we have never shone? The truth is we fear ‘evangelism’. The fear of ridicule, the fear of being rejected, the fear of being labelled, the fear of failure, the fear of not knowing what to say. So we fall into our Christian rabbit-holes or we go undercover. The challenge for us is to overcome this.

Jesus' command to his first disciples assumes that the ongoing proclamation of the gospel will continue in the life of future disciples - you and me.

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. ~ Matthew 28:18-20

The command to go and make disciples among all people is to continue in subsequent generation of Christians as they teach others to do the same.

When we turn to the book of Acts we again find in the words of Jesus the assumption that the proclamation of the gospel will continue to the very ends of the earth through his disciples.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. ~ Acts 1:8

And when we get to the end of the book of Acts, you find that the witness of the first disciples to Jesus has spread all through the known world. In fact the book of Acts is an open-ended book, because the story hasn’t ended – it continues with you. The witness of the first apostles to Jesus continues in the ongoing proclamation of the gospel in subsequent generations of Christians who have done likewise - Christians in every generation who have taken the gospel to the ends of the earth, from Sydney to Bathurst to Vanuatu to Bolivia. The fact that we meet as Christians in Burwood 2000 years on is witness to the words of Jesus and the faithfulness of generations of Christians before us.

God has always used men and women like you and me in bringing the gospel to the world – a gospel that is the power of God for the salvation of all who believe (Rom.1:16-17). Good news should and must be shared.

Pastoral Note - 20th May 2007

Everyone has a view on what our problems are as a church. I am always hearing that the church needs to make changes, our leaders need to make changes, our people need changing. We need a ‘reformation’ of sorts. The ‘Reformation’ was a movement in the 16th century to reform the Catholic church in Europe. The Reformers were those looking to reform the church from its corruption and false teaching. In an attempt to reform the Catholic church came the REdiscovery of the Word of God, out of which the protestant churches have come out from (Baptist, Presbyterian, Anglican, Lutheran).

One reformer was a man called Martin Luther who challenged the teachings of the church on how someone gets saved. Luther argued from the Bible that a man/woman is made right with God through faith alone in the work of Christ alone (Rom.1:16-17). It hinged on the conviction that the Bible alone is ones final authority on all matters of life and doctrine. He was charged with heresy. When questioned before the courts, standing before the most powerful men and women in Europe and asked to recant, he said, "Your Imperial Majesty and Your Lordships demand a simple answer. Here it is, plain and unvarnished. Unless I am convicted [convinced] of error by the testimony of Scripture or (since I put no trust in the unsupported authority of Pope or councils, since it is plain that they have often erred and often contradicted themselves) by manifest reasoning, I stand convicted [convinced] by the Scriptures to which I have appealed, and my conscience is taken captive by God's word, I cannot and will not recant anything, for to act against our conscience is neither safe for us, nor open to us. On this I take my stand. I can do no other. God help me."

True reformation begins when you take the Bible as your final authority on all matters of life and doctrine. If we are to bring reformation to our church, our leadership and our lives, then we must be men and women of the Word i.e. Bible centered and Bible believing Christians. The revealed Word of God alone must shape what we believe and how we are to live. Sola Scriptura (by scripture alone) was the battle cry of the Reformers, many of whom died defending the authority of the Bible.

Transformation begins with a conviction that it is the Word of God alone that is our final authority on all matters of life and doctrine; a word that is inspired by God or God breathed, infallible (without error in what it teaches) and sufficient for my life (2 Tim.3:16-17). The best thing we could be doing as a church is to be men and women devoted to searching the Scriptures, reading the Scriptures and applying the Scriptures. Only then will you experience God’s personal ‘reformation’ in your life.

Read, Reflect, Respond - 6th May 2007

Psalm 19; John 10:27-29

1. What brings the song writer comfort in Psalm 19?
2. How does Jesus’ promise in John 10:27-29 bring me comfort in my valley experiences?
3. What should I do when I’m walking in a spiritual desert?

Pastoral Note - 6th May 2007

Quite a number of years ago, I remember counselling someone feeling spiritually down. We’ve all gone through it before – either times when you feel like you’re walking through the valley of the shadow of death (Ps.19) or when you feel like you’re walking in a spiritual desert. You know the feeling when God feels distant – when everything in your life seems to have gone wrong. I’ve heard it before from those who’ve walked in that spiritual desert – “I don’t feel like praying and when I do I don’t feel anything. I haven’t read my bible for some time, and when I do I don’t get anything out of it. God seems so distant and I feel that I’m going to lose my faith. I feel as if I’m going to let go any moment.”

What we need to realize is that in our desert experiences God is actually closest to us. The song writer in Psalm 19 says that though he walks in the valley of the shadow of death, he knows God’s comfort i.e. God’s comforting leading and presence. ‘Your rod and your staff they comfort me’, says the song writer. The apostle Paul says the same thing in his desert experience as you read 2 Cor.1. Beaten, misunderstood, in chains, falsely accused, physically sick and he says, ‘God is my comfort’.

Why is the song writer and Paul able to find comfort in God, even in the worst of times as they walk through the valley of the shadow of death? The answer lies in that what keeps you secure and safe doesn’t ultimately depend on your hold on Jesus, how hard your grip is, but on Jesus’ hold on you … on the Father’s grip on you. And let me say to you that Jesus and the Father never let go.

Jesus himself tells us this in John 10:27-29. (27) My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. (28) I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. (29) My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.

Sometimes our hold on Jesus feels weak and fragile. The circumstances of our lives make us feel like we are losing our grip on God. What we need to remember is that his hold and his grip is what matters. His hold and his grip is strong and unbreakable. In fact, your are doubly secure – you are in the strong hands of Jesus and the Father, such that no one can snatch you from the double hand grip of God! When you cannot walk, when your arms are weak and failing, when your grip is slipping, remember that He still holds on to you.

Whether you’re walking in a spiritual desert or walking through the valley of the shadow of death, remember that He is holding on to you. What you need to do is to persevere, to keep trusting him, to keep obeying him, or as Jesus says in the verse above, to keep following Him, because he’s right there with you.

Read, Reflect, Respond - 29th April 2007

1 Corinthians 15:3ff; 15:17-18

1. What would the implications be if Jesus had died but never rose from the dead?
2. What are the implications for me knowing that Jesus has risen from the dead?
3. How does the resurrection of Jesus give me confidence and assurance as a Christian?

Pastoral Note - 29th April 2007

Easter was just another holiday for most people. For some, the Easter weekend was a time to remember the death and celebrate the resurrection of Christ. For others it was the one time in the year they went to church (apart from Christmas, baptisms, weddings and funerals). For the business community it was another opportunity to 'sell' Easter - and I must say that if you're a chocolate lover, the last two weeks were the best time to buy those Easter eggs and chocolate bunnies … all at half price! For me it was just another holiday. That's not to say that we shouldn’t celebrate Easter, but our Easter celebrations shouldn't be limited to one weekend in April. Whenever Christians meet each week around God's Word they celebrate Easter, because we meet each week to celebrate Christ's death and resurrection. We meet to give him thanks and praise for the forgiveness he’s made available through his death on a cross. We meet because we are Christians – followers of Christ. So in a sense it’s just another 'holy' day for us - a day 'set apart' to remember the death and celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus.

In fact, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is at the very heart of the Christian faith. 1 Corinthians 15:3ff summarizes the Christian message by telling us that 'Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, … he was buried, … he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.' At the cross, Jesus dies in our place to pay the penalty for our sins – for the way we’ve lived our lives rejecting God. But it’s the resurrection of Jesus that is the guarantee for those who trust in Jesus, that their sins have actually been dealt with, and they are now right with God. If Jesus Christ had not been raised, our faith would be futile and we would still be in our sins, and all those who have died as followers of Christ would be lost for eternity (1 Corinthians 15:17,18). The message of Easter as it centres on the death and resurrection of Jesus is good news because it saves men and women from their sins.

But the message of Easter also speaks of the bad news of judgment. It's a message of judgment because the death and resurrection of Christ is a declaration that God takes our sin seriously. He takes our life of rejecting him seriously - and he's dealt with it on the cross where Jesus died in our place. It is a reminder to us that we cannot go on living life as if God wasn’t there.

The death and resurrection of Christ is good news to those who have come to trust in what Christ has done for them and responded by trusting him. But it's bad news for those who have rejected what Christ has done for them and ignored Him, because Easter is a reminder to them that they have rejected God and are still under his judgment. It's ironic that Easter is a public holiday and there's so much fanfare that goes with it each year - what so many people fail to realize is that it is a 'holy' day, and what they celebrate is not just God's forgiveness made available, but for many their rejection of God.

The Easter message as it centres on the death and resurrection of Jesus holds out forgiveness and an opportunity to get right with God. But it’s also a reminder that for those who continue to reject and ignore God, they continue to stand under his judgment.

Read, Reflect, Respond - 1st April 2007

Read, Reflect, Respond This Week

2.Tim.3:14-17; Heb.4:12
1. What is the purpose or intention of the Word of God?
2. What does the Word of God say about itself?
3. How should we be approaching and reading the Bible?

Pastoral Note - 1st April 2007

What is an ‘evangelical’ Christian? One of the problems is that lot’s of people call themselves ‘evangelicals’. You can find people who call themselves ‘evangelical’ Roman Catholics or ‘evangelical’ Pentecostals or ‘evangelical’ Greek Orthodox.

In fact, WE are called an ‘evangelical’ church. Historically, an ‘evangelical’ was a swear word in the 16th century; a divisive word that was narrowly defined. It was a word that was used of a particular type of Christian.

At its most basic level an ‘evangelical’ is a gospel-centered Christian. In fact, the word ‘evangelical’ comes from the word ‘gospel’ or ‘good news’ in the New Testament (NT). What we need to be clear about is that not everyone who calls themselves an evangelical is a gospel-centered Christian. I say this because true ‘evangelicals’ are those whose beliefs and practices are shaped by the gospel of Jesus Christ (1 Cor.15:3-4; Eph.2:20; Rom.1:1-5). And at the heart of the gospel is the atoning death of Jesus on the cross for our sins, his victorious resurrection from the dead, and the call to repentance, faith and a life of discipleship. The problem is sin and judgment: it is people’s greatest need. The solution is the death of Jesus on the cross: it deals with people’s sin and judgment. Therefore, personal salvation and change in society comes through bringing men and women to faith in Jesus and his work alone. I would venture to say that many popular ‘evangelical’ groups would not hold to this gospel, because when it comes down to it, they are not Word-centered Christians.

For an ‘evangelical’ is not only a gospel-centered Christian, they are also a Bible believing Christian. For ultimately a true understanding of the gospel must come from the pages of Scripture. The second thing we need to be clear about is that not everyone who calls themselves an evangelical is a Bible believing Christian. An ‘evangelical’ is committed to the authority of the Scriptures as the Word of God on all matters of life and belief (2 Tim.3:16-17; Heb.4:12).

Firstly, it means being committed to the inspiration of Scripture as the special revelation or the very Word of God. Whenever we open up to read or hear the Bible read, we must remember that God himself speaks. It is God-breathed (2 Tim.3:16a). It is the authoritative Word that stands above every culture, belief, value, opinion, government and life. Secondly, it means being committed to the infallibility of Scripture because it is the very Word of God. If the Scriptures originate from God himself, then it would also be true to say that it is without error in its teaching, its commands and its claims. Thirdly, it means being committed to the sufficiency of Scripture because as the very Word of God it is sufficient not just in saving us (2 Tim.3:15), but sufficient for all of life (2 Tim.3:16-17).

‘Evangelical’ Christians in the true sense of the word are Christians who’s beliefs and practices are shaped by the gospel of Jesus Christ as revealed in the written Word of God, inspired by God himself, infallible and sufficient for all of life. Are you an ‘evangelical’ Christian?

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